Ballinamallard United 1, Ballymena United 0

Glenn Ferguson’s side’s run of league games without a win stretched to four games after this setback at Ferney Park.

More worryingly, the Sky Blues have now gone more than five hours without a league goal as they remain in the lower reaches of the table.

Glenn Ferguson sprang a surprise in his starting line-up by handing a debut to reserve team midfielder Thomas Robinson.

The United boss started the game with four recognised strikers on the bench, with David Cushley and Alan Teggart supplemented in a supporting attacking role by the recalled Alan Davidson.

The first half-chance fell to Ballinamallard’s Ryan Campbell but as he ran onto a loose ball, his shot lacked the power to beat Dwayne Nelson.

Ballymena began to gain a foothold in the game with Thomas Robinson beating the offside trap to latch onto Gary Thompson’s diagonal pass but as the youngster surged in from the right hand side of the penalty area, he could only shoot weakly at Alvin Rouse.

Robinson was again involved a few minutes later as, from another strong run, he cut a cross back across the face of goal but David Cushley had arrived too soon and was only able to divert the ball wide.

Early in the second half, Jason McCartney went on a mazy run, eventually laying the ball off for Campbell to shot wide of the target.

In a game of little creativity, David Cushley almost produced a moment of magic, dinking the ball over a defender’s head before drilling a shot narrowly beyond Rouse’s far post.

Just before the hour mark, Nelson produced the first meaningful save of the game when he finger-tipped Jason’s McCartney’s low shot around the post.

The respite was short-lived, however, as the resultant corner wasn’t cleared and when it fell to Ryan Campbell on the edge of the penalty area, he took a touch before lofting a rising shot over Nelson and into the top corner.

Ballymena forced a series of corners and from one of Alan Teggart’ s flag kicks, Mark McCullagh’s near post volley found the side netting.

As United pressed for an equaliser, Gary Thompson went forward on a surging run but with sub Neil Lowry perhaps better placed, the midfielder opted to go for goal and his low effort was turned behind by Rouse for a fruitless corner.

Ballymena’s approach play was at times intricate but it badly lacked a killer final ball.

Tony Kane also tried his luck with a trademark long-range shot but it was straight down Rouse’s throat, while Cushley had a close-range effort blocked by Leon Carters.

As United threw men forward, they were susceptible on the counter-attack and from one such attack, McCartney rounded Nelson but was unable to force the ball past Mark McCullagh.

Ballinamallard United: Rouse, McConkey (sub N Beacom 84), Keohane, Carters, Stafford, Kee, Hutchinson (sub Currie 77), Crawford, McCartney, Feeney (sub McManus 85), Campbell. Subs: Murphy, C Beacom.

Ballymena United: Nelson, Kane, McCullagh, Taylor, Ruddy, Stewart (sub Dolan 75), Thompson, Robinson (sub Lowry 64), Davidson, Teggart (sub Liggett 84), Cushley. Subs: Surgenor, McLellan.

Referee: Ian McNabb (Glengormley)